Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. It is
a plant widely used in folk and traditional medicines for cardiovascular,
immune, nervous and endocrine systems, and according to the researchers, it has
the ability to increase the non-specific resistance state, which characterizes
it as an adaptogenic substance. There are different species of ginseng, such as
the American, Chinese, Korean and Japanese ginseng; the Korean species (Panax
ginseng)is being used for
thousands of years as a tonic, prophylactic and
“restorative” agent, with powerful antioxidant properties. For a long
time, its use was empirical, because people used to believe that it was a
panacea that promoted longevity, with beneficial effects for the treatment of
physical fatigues. Nowadays, the active components of Eleutherococcus
senticosus are well described, however, there are no data on the
quantity of a certain class of these secondary compounds produced in each species.
Although the Eleutherococcus senticosus extract may contain
several substances, including vitamins, minerals, cellulose, and ethanol, the
substances responsible for inducing various physiological responses are the
eleutherosides (in the root) and ciwujianosides
(in the leaf). As Eleutherococcus senticosus receives great attention
by showing that its active components can provide protection against
oxidative stress, among other benefits, contributing to health and the
prevention and treatment of diseases, such
as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. The purpose of this article is to describe the
main, adverse and toxicological effects of Eleutherococcus
senticosus recently related in the
literature.

Rhie, S.G. and Won, H.R. (2004) Effect of hot water soluble extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus and dietary carnitine on the lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system of rats on hypercholesterol diet. The Korean Journal of Community Living Science, 15, 105-113.

McNaughton, L., Egan, G. and Caelli, G. (1989) A comparison of Chinese and Russian ginseng as ergogenic aids to improve various facets of physical fitness. International Journal of Clinical and Nutrition Reviews, 9, 32-35.